11 Things: Michael Jackson - fact and fiction

Chris Sabbath

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, July 16, 2009

Photo: Russel Daniels, AP

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Jeff Koons' 1988 sculpture, "Michael Jackson and Bubbles," a portrait of the pop star and his pet monkey, is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago on Thursday, May 29, 2008. The porcelain work is among about 60 other sculptures and paintings by Koons. The exhibit opens Saturday, May 31 and runs through late September. less

Jeff Koons' 1988 sculpture, "Michael Jackson and Bubbles," a portrait of the pop star and his pet monkey, is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago on Thursday, May 29, 2008. The porcelain work ... more

Photo: Russel Daniels, AP

11 Things: Michael Jackson - fact and fiction

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1. Prince

Prince and MJ on the same song ... WTF? It almost happened with Jackson's hit "Bad," but because of creative differences, the Purple One was outta there faster then you can say sha'mon.

2. Batman

Jacko doing the Batdance with Vicki Vale? Afraid not, but he was asked to write and perform the songs for the "Batman" soundtrack, before politely declining because of concert commitments.

3. Exotic pets

In addition to his lovable chimp sidekick, Bubbles, the King of Pop also owned a boa constrictor named Muscles and a python named Crusher. This doesn't include the elephants, giraffes and other animals he also owned.

4. Hammer time

Before he dropped the MC and went gangsta, Hammer challenged the Gloved One to a dance-off. MJ allegedly responded to the challenge saying, "I've seen your videos and every single dance move you use you got off of me." This was also probably the moment Hammer's career as a rapper tanked.

5. Sleeping habits

In a stunt to promote his role in the Disney sci-fi adventure "Captain EO," the pop icon was the one who started the rumor that he slept in a hyperbaric chamber. Unfortunately the joke backfired and became the first of many scandals that would dog him for the remainder of his life.

6. Cursing

Back in the "Thriller" days, Michael was nicknamed "Smelly" by close friends Quincy Jones and Steven Spielberg because he rarely cussed and would use the term in place of swear words.

7. South Carolina

In addition to a chunk of Beatles tunes, the Moonwalker also owned the rights to the South Carolina state anthem, "South Carolina on My Mind."

8. Digits

It was rumored that MJ revealed his phone number to the world in the most unlikely of places, the bar code of the "Thriller" album. It turns out it was just that - a rumor.

9. Little Mac

"Home Alone" star and godfather to Jacko's children Macaulay Culkin co-designed the amusement park that graced the Neverland ranch. Looks as if all those sleepovers really did pay off in the end.